Apparatus for processing photosensitive material

Abstract

A method for replenishing a solution in a film processor having a sump tank. The method provides for adding a sufficient amount of replenishment solution to the sump tank upon powering up of the film processor and in response to removing processing fluid from the sump tank and supplying it to the processor so as to raise the level of the processing fluid in the sump tank to a predetermined level. The addition of further replenishment solution is delayed until a predetermined amount of photosensitive material has been processed through the film processor. Thereafter replenishment solution is supplied to the sump tank in accordance with the amount of film that has been processed by the film processor.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of replenishing a solution in a film processor having an upper tank and a lower tank which form a processing chamber there between through which a photosensitive material can be advanced, said upper tank being substantially empty before powering up of the film processor, and a sump tank for supplying a processing fluid to the upper and lower tanks, the method comprising the steps of: adding a sufficient amount of replenishment solution to the sump tank upon powering up of the film processor and filling of the upper and lower tanks with processor fluid from the sump tank so that the level of the processing fluid in the sump tank is raised to a predetermined level   delaying the addition of further replenishment solution until a predetermined amount of photosensitive material has been processed through the film processor; and   thereafter replenishing the processing fluid in the sump tank in accordance with the amount of film that has been processed by the film processor.   
     
     
       2. A method of replenishing a solution in a film processor having an upper tank and a lower tank which form a processing chamber there between through which a photosensitive material can be advanced, said upper tank being substantially empty before powering up of the film processor, and a sump tank for supplying a processing fluid to the upper and lower tanks, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring the level of the processing fluid within the sump tank and adding a sufficient amount of replenishment solution to the sump tank so as to raise the level of the processing fluid in the sump tank to a predetermined level;   delaying the addition of further replenishment solution until a predetermined amount of photosensitive material has been processed through the film processor; and   thereafter replenishing the processing fluid in the sump tank in accordance with the amount of film that has been processed by the film processor.   
     
     
       3. A method of replenishing a solution in a film processor having a sump tank for holding a processing fluid, a processing chamber for processing of a photosensitive material, said processing chamber being substantially empty before powering up of the film processor, and means for removing processing fluid from the sump tank and delivering it to the processing chamber for processing of a photosensitive material, the method comprising the steps of: adding a sufficient amount of replenishment solution to the sump tank upon powering up of the film processor and supplying the processing chamber with fluid from the sump tank so that the level of the processing fluid in the sump tank is raised to a predetermined level; and   delaying the addition of further replenishment solution until a predetermined amount of photosensitive material has been processed through the film processor; and   thereafter replenishing the processing fluid in the sump tank in accordance with the amount of film that has been processed by the film processor.   
     
     
       4. A method of replenishing a solution in a film processor having a sump tank for holding a processing fluid, said processing chamber being substantially empty before powering up of the film processor, a processing chamber for processing of a photosensitive material, and means for removing processing fluid from the sump tank and delivering it to the processing chamber for processing of a photosensitive material, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring the level of the processing fluid within the sump tank and adding a sufficient amount of replenishment solution to the sump tank so as to raise the level of the processing fluid in the sump tank to a predetermined level;   delaying the addition of further replenishment solution until a predetermined amount of photosensitive material has been processed through the film processor; and   thereafter replenishing the processing fluid in the sump tank in accordance with the amount of film that has been processed by the film processor.